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Nubian Village Wonders: Our Aswan Adventure
Once we take a beat, we drink in our surroundings. Nubian Village is bright, colorful, welcoming, and like nothing we’ve ever seen. We later learn that Nubians are indigenous people from the ancient …
Nile-Side Strolls: Discovering the Heart of Luxor After Dark
For people who worry that Egypt may not be a safe place to visit, I have to share about my amazing experiences on the West Bank in Luxor. When we booked our Airbnb…
Luxor's Hidden Gems: A Day of Surprises
Each and every time we walk to or from our Airbnb, we can expect a dozen or more people to ask where we’re from and how long we’ll be here and then pitch us to either take…
A Muddy Adventure in the Name of Love
When I was growing up in the 1970s, there was a cartoon in the newspapers by Kim Casali called, “love is…” I used to cut them out and save them…
Encounters in the Dust: Stories from a Luxor Stroll
We awoke at pre-dawn for a sunrise hot-air balloon ride the morning after we arrived in Luxor. The thrill of the experience revved up our appetites, so afterwards we grab Turkish coffees…
Floating on Cloud Nine: Luxor's Affordable Sky-High Adventure
There’s something incredibly serene about watching colorful hot-air balloons drift lazily through the sky. I never seriously considered being in one since I assumed they’d be fairly expensive. It is a shocking surprise to see how little it costs to hop into one of these floating wonders in Luxor, Egypt, so this is one of the rare occasions …
Pharaoh's Revenge: A Cairo Culinary Tale
I’m sitting on our Airbnb patio taking in the sounds of the truck and driver using a megaphone to shout out foreign words that I can’t understand. Birds are chirping and horns are honking. We were supposed to tour the pyramids and see the Sphinx today, but
Packing List: How We Pack and Travel with Only Carry-On Luggage
Head over to YouTube and watch Episode 35 to see all the luggage, tech, and accessories that we use to travel full time with only backpacks and carry-on luggage. After watching, you can use the list below to upgrade your travel kit.
Shower Chronicles: From Cramped Rome to Soaked Cairo
It’s not actually spring yet, but we have had a variety of showers that are worth mentioning. Here are a few from our short months of travel, but I know I’ll have more. Our accommodations are as much of an adventure as every other part of our experiences.
Symphony of Cairo: Embracing the Vibrant Chaos of Everyday Life
’m not sure what I expected of Cairo. It has its own unique “music” that we’ve not heard elsewhere. This morning we awoke to …
Roaming Rome: A Quick Day-Long Love Affair with History
Don’t think that it’s sufficient to see Rome in a day. You wouldn’t be bored if you spent a full two weeks or more biking through and examining all the gems hidden here. But when you only have a day, it can be fun to do a quick stop and wave to familiar sites and allow your heart to swoon for a few minutes before finding the next place that takes away your breath.…
Suite Surprises: A Roman Valentine's Day Getaway!
It’s Valentine’s Day and the homestretch before we leave for Egypt. We’re supposed to be in Assisi today, not Rome, but last week our travel doctor asked us to come back for our second cholera vaccination. Visiting a doctor is not the most romantic way to celebrate, but it’s fine because this day is not typically one that grabs much of our attention.
Frozen Surprises and Hot Water Woes: Lecce Adventures
We arrive at our next destination’s train station on Monday evening. Lecce greets us with cold temperatures, elegant Baroque architecture, and silence. Our original plan for the Christmas season was to visit this eastern city in Italy’s Puglia region and take in its famous paper mâché manger scenes, but we ran short of time. Since Greece is only a hop away, we …
Beware the Steps: A Lecce Airbnb Tale of Unexpected Climbs
Now that they are older and wiser, they take great care to not repeat their mistakes by packing much lighter and always reading the fine print. But the Airbnb in Lecce bewitches them with its alluring image of a balcony ripe for cozy mornings with cappuccino or sunset aperitivos. They are not prepared for the …
Savoring Winter: Athens, Chestnuts, and Sweet Memories
We head back from Aeropagus Hill on this lively Saturday afternoon and there’s a festive mood all around us. The street musicians are everywhere, the outdoor restaurants are buzzing, and the energy of Athens is palpable. Street carts are loaded with roasted chestnuts and grilled corn. I step up to the open flame …
Footsteps in History: A Day of Exploration in Ancient Agora
We begin every morning with a walk around the city to explore new neighborhoods and historic landmarks. Our Airbnb is in the neighborhood of Monastiraki, which is at the center of everything in Athens, and has…
A Glimpse into Tradition: The Grand Change at the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The streets of Athens, Greece are quiet and abandoned on this—and every—Sunday morning, in part because many people are at church. Kevin claims it’s equally because people party well into the wee hours…
Strands of Hope: Navigating Dreams and Disappointments in a Salon Chair
So this person, who cuts and styles hair for a living—and changes people’s lives every day—can’t see a way to make her own dreams come true.
Savoring Souvlaki and Sipping Cappuccinos: Navigating Nomadic Life in Greece
I know many things about this new phase of our lives may not be what people expect…
Corporate Farewell and Full-time Travel
Our walk to the DHL office is markedly different than it was a day ago…